Catalytic, nucleophilic allylation of aldehydes with allyl acetate.

A new catalytic allylation of aldehydes has been developed that employs allyl acetate as the allylating reagent. Under catalysis by ruthenium trichloride (3 mol %) in the presence of carbon monoxide (30 psi), water (1.5 equiv), and triethylamine (0.1 equiv), a wide range of aromatic, olefinic, and aliphatic aldehydes are efficiently allylated under mild conditions (70 degrees C, 24-48 h). The stoichiometric byproducts of this reaction are carbon dioxide and acetic acid.